fully refuse to come. Which of you in such a case would not be moved? Who would not think a great injury and wrong done unto him? Wherefore, most dearly beloved in Christ, take ye good heed, lest ye, withdrawing yourselves from this Holy Supper, provoke God's indignation against you. It is an easy matter for a man

to say, I will not communicate, because I am otherwise hindered

with worldly business.

But such excuses are

not so easily accepted and allowed before God. If any man say, I am

grievous sinner, and

They who make such excuses may truly be said, "not to discern the Lord's Body." They are not aware of the peculiar sanctity which the service was meant to awaken, and therefore they are guilty of an Act of profanation, corresponding in magnitude with the importance of the recollection which this holy ceremony actually involves.

therefore am afraid to come: wherefore then do ye not repent and amend? When God calleth you, are ye not ashamed to say ye will not come? When ye should return to God, will ye excuse yourselves, and say ye are not ready? Consider earnestly with your selves how little such feigned excuses avail before God. They

will

Will one sin justify another? Can a man's offence be his defence?

Can we refuse to do in remembrance of Christ that which He did with His disciples at the last interview He had with them on the evening before He suffered for our sins.

that refused the feast in

the Gospel, because they had bought a farm, or would try their yokes of oxen, or because they were married, were not so excused, but counted unworthy of the heavenly Feast. I, for my part, shall be ready; and, according to mine Office, I bid you in the

name of God, I call you in Christ's behalf, I exhort you as you love your own salvation, that ye will be partakers of this holy Communion. And

as the Son of God did vouchsafe to yield up his soul by death upon the Cross for your salvation; so it is your duty to receive the Communion in remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, as he himself hath commanded : which if ye shall neglect to do, consider with yourselves how great injury ye do unto God, and how sore

This appeal breathes the genuine spirit of Christian tenderness.

At this, His Table, we receive not unto death, but to life; not to destruction, but

who come to feed on

the banquet of that most heavenly food. These things if ye earnestly consider, ye will by God's grace return to a better mind: for the obtaining whereof we shall not cease to make our humble petitions unto Almighty

TAt the time of the celebration of the Communion, the Communicants being conveniently placed for the receiv ing of the Holy Sacrament, the Priest shall say this Exhortation:

Dearly beloved in the Lord, that mind ye to come to the holy

Communion of the

Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how how Saint Paul exhorteth all

per

It must be remembered that we who partake of this holy Communion personate for the occasion the chosen friends and disciples with whom our Lord sat down to Table, and we take our places around a Table prepared for us, as the apostles once took their seats at the Paschal Table, when Jesus Himself gave them the

and examine themselves, before they presume to eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament (for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink his Blood; then we dwell

in Christ, and Christ in us; we are one with

Christ, and Christ with us); so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. For then we are guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ our Saviour; we

eat and drink our own damnation, not considering the Lord's body; we kindle God's

love.